Public invited to tree-trimming meeting

The town will hold an informational session Tuesday, Aug. 28 at 7 p.m. in the Winchester Room at Town Hall to give residents the chance to understand NSTAR's tree-trimming program and the work that will be done.

By Evan MacDonald/emacdonald@wickedlocal.com

Wicked Local

By Evan MacDonald/emacdonald@wickedlocal.com

Posted Aug. 10, 2012 at 12:01 AM
Updated Aug 10, 2012 at 10:13 AM

By Evan MacDonald/emacdonald@wickedlocal.com

Posted Aug. 10, 2012 at 12:01 AM
Updated Aug 10, 2012 at 10:13 AM

Winchester, MA

» Social News

Last year, when representatives from NSTAR trimmed trees in town as part of the company’s vegetation management program, many residents were caught off-guard.

To avoid that, the town will hold an informational session Tuesday, Aug. 28 at 7 p.m. in the Winchester Room at Town Hall to give residents the chance to understand the need for the program and the work that will be done.

“I really want [NSTAR] to sit down with the town and make sure all our bases are covered,” said Jay Gill, the director of the department of public works. “I really want the residents to understand why we’re doing it, too. We do have a problem in town that needs to be addressed.”

The program, which is funded by NSTAR, trims trees to allow space above, below and to the side of a power line. Leaving space between wires and tree limbs and branches can reduce the risk of losing power during a major storm, according to the company’s website.

Trees will be trimmed at the same specifications as last year to allow 8 feet of space below and to the side of a wire and 12 feet of space above a wire, Gill said.

Work will be done on seven circuits in town, affecting residents on more than 100 streets. The program is expected to take place over about seven months, with a visit to each of the seven circuits planned for each month.

The amount that NSTAR would be allowed to cut were debated at the July 16 Board of Selectmen meeting. NSTAR had proposed expanding the trimming area to 10 feet by 10 feet by 15 feet, in response to the number of downed wires and tree limbs during the past year’s storms, which included Hurricane Irene.

However, the town objected. Gill said NSTAR’s additional trimming would have had a significant aesthetic impact on the town.

“I truly believe, after the last couple years, that it’s important for us to have a vegetation management program,” Gill said. “I just wanted to make sure it’s pruning, and not clear-cutting.”